Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

his promise, he slipped through the door, and clicked it shut behind him.*****

Spencer checked the time again as he paced in the lobby of the Gherring’s apartment building. It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet. He didn’t want to go upstairs too early, but he didn’t think he could wait much longer. He’d hardly slept the night before. He realized Charlie was right. He no longer felt any anger about Asher Denning. He was only aware of the fear and agony he’d felt when he’d almost lost her. Twice. He knew he was in love with her. Both times he would gladly have given his life to save hers. He had to let her know how he felt, but he couldn’t say words like “love” too soon. He had to be careful. She liked to be in control, and he didn’t want to scare her away.

The elevator doors opened, and he felt instant rage at the sight of the man exiting. “What are you doing here, Josh?” He ground the words out between his teeth.

“Hello, Spencer. How are you?” Josh smiled, his voice filled with unequivocal delight. “I was simply taking care of my patients. I don’t usually make house calls. But in special cases I’m willing to make an exception.” He waggled his eyebrows. “And this is definitely a special case.”

Spencer felt a clear understanding of the term justifiable homicide. “Get out!”

“I’m leaving, but only because I have to go to work. Certainly not because you think you commanded it. Have a good day.”

Spencer watched him exit through the lobby door, breathing deeply to calm himself. It was obviously not too early to see the Gherrings. So he punched in the code that allowed him to take the elevator up to the penthouse and knocked on the door, pacing nervously until it opened.

“Hi, Spencer,” said Gherring. “This time it really is you. A little earlier—“

“I know,” Spencer snapped. “Josh was here. I saw him downstairs.”

“Yes, he just knocked on the door. He must have learned the code from Charlie last night. It was a total surprise.”

“An unpleasant one as far as I’m concerned. Is Emily available?”

“Sure, she’ll be right out.” He walked toward the bedrooms, calling, “Emily! Spencer’s here to see you.”

His heart hammered in his chest. The last time he’d spoken to her, she’d been sitting at a table with Asher Denning. So much had happened since then, but they hadn’t communicated. She limped into the room, obviously trying, but failing, to appear uninjured.

“Hi Spencer.” Her eyes studied the carpet around his feet.

“I... uhmm... I think I hear Anne calling me.” Gherring disappeared into the bedroom.

Spencer couldn’t help staring at the bruises and cuts that carpeted her legs. “Hi. How do you feel?”

He stood awkwardly in front of her while she perched on the couch. “I’m okay. I didn’t run twenty miles like you did.”

“I… uhmm… I came to see you yesterday, but you’d already gone.”

“I know. I heard. But it was such a long way to the Devil’s Path—I had to leave really early to get there.”

“Why did you ask Becca? You should have called me.”

“I didn’t think you’d answer if I called. Would you have answered?”

“I... I don’t know. I’d like to think so.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I was desperate.”

“I really hate you went through that. And you have all those cuts all over you.”

“I know. They’re ugly.”

“That’s not what I mean. I don’t want you to be hurt. Ever.”

“I don’t know. I felt like I deserved it... after I lied and everything. I was just flattered, you know. Asher didn’t mean anything—”

“I know. I know. I didn’t... When I thought I’d lost you... When I thought you were... I couldn’t handle it.”

“I’m sorry. And I know you saved my life. They told me—”

“And then Josh saved your life,” he bit out sarcastically.

“Are you mad at me about Josh? I didn’t ask for him to come along, you know.”

“No, I’m not mad at you, but I can’t stand that guy.”

“Honestly, I think I’d probably still be out there, lost on that mountain, if Josh and Brad hadn’t happened by. I was about to turn off the trail because I couldn’t believe my directions were right.”

“He’s a jerk.”

“Funny. He said the same thing about you, and he hadn’t even met you.”

“Well, he really is a jerk, and he’s trying to steal you from me.” He gritted his teeth. “It’s so unfair. You’re not even mine, and he’s trying to take you away.”

“Well, he doesn’t control me. No one controls me.”

“What was he doing up here this morning, anyway?”

He watched her cheeks flush. “He came to check out my ankle. And while he was here he put a new IV in Mom’s arm. That’s all. It was just doctor stuff.”

“So he’s your doctor now?” She flinched at his sarcasm.

“No. I didn’t even know he was a doctor.”

“You didn’t know when he gave you codeine? When he drugged you?”

“I didn’t know until this morning. And don’t use that tone with me!”

Spencer beat on his forehead with the palm of his hand, pounding out his frustration. “I can’t help it! You almost died! Don’t you understand? You don’t know what it was like—to see you laying there, not breathing. To think I’d lost you.”

He knelt down in front of her, and cupped her face in his hands. “I’ve dreamed about kissing you, imagined what it would be like. But the first time I put my lips on yours, I was trying to keep you alive. It wasn’t supposed to be like that.”

He watched her eyes, and she returned his intense gaze. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, and he suppressed a groan. He hesitated, but when she didn’t pull away, he leaned in and touched his mouth to hers. Tentatively, holding back his passion, he explored the softness of her lips with his. His hands moved, caressing her cheeks, marveling at the silky feel of her skin beneath his fingers. His first kiss. No, his second. The first